The Last Standing!

Please make plans to join us for our upcoming club calf sale!

The Lasting Standing

"Where the Ribbons are Won!"

Saturday, April 16th

Bidding from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Lunch Provided!

Can't Wait to See You There!!

Cattle will also be available for preview on Friday afternoon at the sale location!

CSR Barn

Alapaha, GA

For more information call 229-325-4394.

PRE LESSONS : Let's Start with the Basics...

If you think this cow is giving you a dirty look she just might be?

Did you forget to say THANK YOU?

Yeap!! You read it right!!

The first thing you need to learn about showing cattle is some MANNERS!! I promise these tips will get you a lot farther than you think!! READ ON.....

We will just start today with some personal manners!!

#1 - Always, Always, ALWAYS....say thank you!! Why? because it is the right thing to do and it actually ends up benefitting you in the end!

The first people you will want to be kind to and say thanks to are the individuals checking you in and "stalling" you. Don't get all irritated if everything isn't exactly our way! Work with them. I guarantee they aren't out to get you!! I was an ag. teacher & a junior board member for a national cattle association  and have been in these people shoes. I promise that the people who are kind and friendly you are more likely to help out! I don't even think it is because you mean too, but let's face it you are going to be kinder to people who are kinder to you!

#2 - Please, Please, PLEASE... thank the judge after the show!! Even if that "low life, stupid idiot of a human" put you dead last!! ( I hope none of you would ever think that way!!)

When I started showing.... I started thanking!

My dad expected this!! No excuses!! I always thought this was so embrassing and he didn't know what he was talking about, but boy did he...My dad is the smartest guy on the planet!

You see if you show enough you will see judges again and again!! It's called "NETWORKING"!! After a show you usually see a bunch of grown men trying to get up to the judge, maybe they are old friends or just someone else trying to network, but it isn't often that you see a kid! That judge is going to remember you!! Sometimes it makes the difference when you and another youth are trying for that top spot and the judge is torn.

#3 - Thank your ag teacher!! (Thank your ag teacher's boss!!) Even if you can't stand your "stupid" ag. teacher and "crazy" extension agent (I know none of my students ever felt this way about me. :) hahaha  ) and even if you fell your ag. teacher didn't do anything!! Remember you don't know everything!! Your ag. teachers/extension agents are usually away from the family to help you. Do you think they want to work on the weekends? I promise this will make a huge difference for you!!

I had the best (and the MOST) ag. teachers in the world!! They also expected me to have MANNERS!!

#4 - Thank your parents!! Most likely they have put out money, took off work, and worked as hard if not harder than you!! SAY THANK YOU!! EXPRESS SOME APPRECIATION!!!

My parents are the best! My mom keep everything organized and on schedule, made sure I had clothes and food at shows, & walked and fed calves right along side of me. I have seen my mom come to shows when she have just had a round of chemo! My hats go off to my mom!! I could learn a lot from her work ethnic and loving ability!!

My dad expected the best! We worked at this 110%! He was always there working with me! Because of my parents I learnt manners!! Manners have taken me far in & out of the show ring!!

Don't worry.....we are going to get to more details like.....

* why the mess is that black calf wearing a brown halter

* where do you think you are a baseball field or a Kid Rock concert

* why.. have you ever even met this calf...you know the one you are showing

Lesson #1: What were you thinking? This one is for the breeders, teachers, and agents.....

I KNOW NONE OF US WOULD DO THIS, BUT THE TRUTH IS...WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO DO...DON'T YOU WANT TO TACK THIS TO THEIR FOREHEAD....

I know everyone has heard that country song, "I don't know what I was thinking, but I know what I was a feeling."

Lately, after all these show calf sales, I am starting to wonder what people are thinking!! I definitely know what they are feeling; A little bit of laziness!!

Here is the scene:
Kid & Family go to steer show!

Kid (or dad) falls in LOVE with some "pookie bear" steer! They are blinded by the fluffy hair and thrilled with the fact that the calf is already broke!

Dad (Mom or Kid) raises his hand a few too many times ...and guess what, Pookie has a new home.

Now, Pookie the steer is heading home. Everyone comes to see Pookie and Auntie Uma even brings the camera. Pookie thinks wow!! I got it good!! Granny & Papa brag on him like a new baby and there is one happy kid!

Tomorrow though, only Dad, Mom and maybe the kid visit and take care of the calf!

Next week it narrows down, one parent and hopefully the kid visiting!

Next week that parent is tired of getting up early to feed that calf, so let's cut back to once in the afternoons.

Kid says Dad, it is only April we have to July to get ready for the futurity show. Dad agrees, Mom is glad, and Pookie is starting to get lonely!!

Now what about Pookie? He doesn't understand why that fan ISN'T turning!! WHERE is his radio? Why MUST he eat out of a pan with poo!! And let's face it, the Mildew in his water ISN'T satisfactory!!

Poor Pookie; the show is coming up soon in just one week, and the kid has the bright idea of actually WORKING with the calf! WOW!! REALLY!!!

They get to the show and despite one great week of hard work, they find Pookie a little like my 3 year old, "souped" up on Mountain Dew and kicking like an eight legged mule!!

POOKIE doesn't show GOOD, and to tell you the truth, neither does the kid! Pookie, you guessed it, is in last place.

Dad says he knew that breeder was no good and they just riped him off! He won't be BACK at that sale!!!

Auntie, Granny, & Papa blamed that low life judge and Mom knows it is the 4-H agent and FFA advisor's fault!! They didn't help the poor kid enough!!

I mean really, the kid, and Pookie, deserved to place higher. HE WORKED SOOOOO HARD WITH HIS CALF!!!

As Jeff says, If you don't get the moral of this story you...here's your sign!!

ENOUGH SAID!! GET REAL!!

Lesson #2 Are you a Cadillac or a Cowboy?

  The other day I was fixing some lunch for my two boys and I was just about at my last nerve!! They were running around and acting like their little butts were on fire...Finally, I screamed "gentlemen, you both better sit down and I mean now." Both of the little ones got in their seat and I thought "Victory at last!!" My 3 year old looks me and plainly (and very seriously) states " We ain't gentlemen...I am a COWBOY and he is a BABY!" Then he claimly went to eatting his lunch! He literally thinks he is some type of western hero, like Wyatt Earp.  He tells everyone he's a cowboy! Most folks don't argue with him, but at our church's discipliship training class last Sunday I literally thought I would have to pull him off a 1st grader who didn't think he was a real cowboy!! Least to say he didn't learn much about Moses that night cause he was so determined to prove to everyone in the class that he was a real cowboy!!

  You know if you don't think you are something you won't ever be!!

  You have to focus on something and believe it to be true and then it can happen!

   Every year on the day of the county show my dad and I did the same thing. We went out to the barn and loaded feed, bottled water (another story), supplies, and clothing for the show. We when quietly loaded in our truck and headed out...When we pulled out on Highway 82 (about 3 miles away from our house) the nearly same conversion would always take place:

So, who do you think will win the show steer tonight?  My dad would answer and ask my opinion.  Usually, we shared the same opinion.  Then I would say.. So, who do you think will win the heifer show tonight? My dad would answer and ask my opinion.  And then without hesitation, I would say, "I am going to win showmanship tonight!" and that was the end of that.....
Usually by that time we would be at our local hardware store, Jernigan's, and we would run in for a coke and a honey bun!

My dad had won our county showmanship every year he was in high school and it was my goal to do the exact same thing...no pressure on my boys, of course.. I have one that will probably he most likely riding his calf and the other will be chasing the girls.....

I won showmanship because I believed that with God's Grace I could do it!

Now don't get me wrong...I would look great driving a brand, new sporty Cadillac. (For anyone who wants to send me one... I will gladly take any color, but black and silver would be my top 2 choices. hahaha) I can imagine myself flying down the interstate in that thing....so what is the difference.....

I put the work behind the thoughts of being a showman! I don't think I will afford a Caddy anytime soon because I am not putting any work efforts towards getting the car!!

You have to do some WORK!!! For those people who just think the show calves come into the world broke and beautiful GET REAL!!! You can think you are the best showman in the world, but if you don't work with your calf by time your county show rolls around you are just going to be a RAN OVER SHOWMAN! That would be about as dumb as sitting on the floor thinking I can fly! I can fly!! and just expecting it to happen!! Unless you are on your lab top buying a ticket on DELTA it ain't going to happen!!

So, the moral of the story, think positive and get off your tush!!